Inside blind



(No Model.)

(1. ROBINSON.

INSIDE BLIND.

No. 435,669. Patented Sept. 2, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE.

CLARK ROBINSON, OF HARTLEY, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO \VILLIAM J. ABER- NETHY, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

INSIDE BLIND.

SPEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,669, dated September 2, 1890.

Application filed September 15, 1888, Serial N0.Z85,498- (N0 model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARK ROBINSON, of Hartley, in the county of OBrien and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Inside Blinds, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to inside blinds, and has reference more particularly to a novel construction of the hinge or joint by which the slats are connected with one another.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view showing several slats connected together; Fig. 2, a perspective View of the hinge or connection removed from the slat; Fig. 3, a similar view showing the position of the parts occupied when the slats are folded; Fig. 4, a vertical longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 5,a face view showing two pairs of blinds as they appear in use.

The hinge or connection comprises a clasp or U-shaped body A, secured to the end of each slat O, and a link or links B, pivotally connecting the former in pairs. The clasp A will preferably be made of a single piece of sheet metal struck up into proper form, and will be seen to comprise longitudinal ears a a, extending from its ends, and fiat arms or plates 1) 1), parallel with but separated from each other, so as to pass upon opposite faces of the slats. The upright plates 1) l) are separated from each other a distance equal to the thickness of the slat O, and are secured to the latter by means of screws or brads or in any other suitable manner. These plates may be made long enough to embrace the end of the slat or may be made narrower, as represented at b b, Fig. 1. The wide plate is preferred, however, as it gives increased strength and prevents the slats from splitting. The ears a, projecting from opposite ends of the clasp, are perforated to receive pins or rivets c, which also pass through the link or links B, as clearly shown in Fig. 4,

thereby pivotally connecting the clasps with the links. In the drawings I have shown two of these links 13, one upon the inner and the other upon the outer face of the cars a; but it is obvious that either the outer or the inner link may be omitted,if desired, though I prefer the construction and arrangement shown. By connecting the hinged sections or clasps by links the slats O are permitted to fold closely against each other, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The slats are arranged close together, so as to touch or nearly touch one another, and in order to facilitate the folding of the slats and at the same time allow them to be set close together the edges of the slats will ,be rounded slightly, as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The hinge herein described may be made more or less ornamental in appearance, and will be found to be simple and cheap in construction and readily applied to the slats. The hinges are readily applied to the ends, and serve also to protect the slats and lessen the liability of splitting.

No broad claim is made by me to awindow blind or screen composed of a series of slats connected at their upper and lower edges or ends; but

\Vhat I do claim is The improved inside blind herein shown and described, comprising a series of slats O O, arranged close tog'ether,a series of U-shaped clasps A, formed with the plates 1) b and ears to a, applied to the ends of the slats, and a link B, connecting the clasps of adjacent slats, all substantially as shown, whereby the ends of the slats are protected and the slats permitted to fold either to the right or to the left into a compact form.

In witness whereof I hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

CLARK ROBINSON.

Witnesses:

P. H. GUNcKEL, W. J. ABERNETHY. 

